AP LIT Greek Tragedy Vocabulary

anagnorisis

noun - The critical moment of recognition or discovery

caparison

noun - A usually ornamental covering for a horse’s saddle or harness, trappings, richly ornamented clothing; finery

catharsis

noun - A purifying or figurative cleansing or release of emotions or of tension, esp. through art

didactic

adjective - Intended to instruct. Morally instructive; inclined to teach or moralize excessively

dirge

noun - A funeral hymn or lament; a slow, mournful musical composition or poem

effulgent

adjective - Shining brilliantly; resplendent

elegiac

adjective/noun - Pertaining to an elegy; expressing sorrow, mournful; composed in couplets whose first line isi dactylic hexameter and second a pentameter 

flinty

adjective - Unyielding, stern; containing or composed of a very hard fine-grained quartz

hamartia

noun - “missing the mark.” A tragic flaw, weakness of character or error in judgement, which causes the downfall of the hero

hubris

noun - Arrogance or overweening pride which causes the hero’s transgression against the gods.

incarnadine

adjective - Flesh-colored; blood-red; 

tr. verb - to make incarnadine, esp. red

jobbery

noun - Corruption among public officials

legion

noun - The major unit of the Roman army consisting of 3,000-6,000 infantry troops and 100-200 cavalrymen. A large number, multitude

adjective - Constituting a large number; multitudinous

myrmidon

noun - One of a legendary Greek warrior people of ancient Thesaly who followed their king Achilles on the expedition against Troy. A faithful follower who carries out orders without question

paean

noun - A song of joyful praise or exultation; a fervent expression of joy or praise

peripeteia

noun - An abrupt and unexpected change in the course of events or situation (such as a sudden reversal), especially in a literary work

progeny

noun - Children or descendents, offspring; result of creative effort; product

promulgate

tr. verb - To make known (a decree for example) by public declaration; announce officially. To put (a law) into effect by formal public announcement

putrescence

noun - Putrid matter; decaying character or matter

vicissitude

noun - A change or variation. Mutability. One of the sudden or unexpected changes or shifts often encountered in one’s life, activities or surroundings.